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When the National Association of Realtors held its 2001 annual meeting in Chicago just one month after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Vice President of Conventions Susan Gourley figured that many attendees would decide to drive to the event rather than take a plane. But she never expected to see seven attendees in a rented van roll in from Portland, Maine, 1,086 miles away.
For 2009 and beyond, however, association planners should come to expect more stories like that — not because attendees are afraid to fly, but because airlines are in the midst of making huge changes in order to stay financially viable. And while 2008 ushered in the first wave of changes, there likely will be plenty more to come.
A Fare Deal?
It was a harbinger of things to come when most domestic airlines could not make a profit, even in the robust economy of mid-2004 to mid-2007. At that time, the price of oil, which dictates jet-fuel prices, held steady between $55 and $60 per barrel. Planes were fairly full, thanks to plenty of leisure travelers sharing armrests with business travelers. What's more, discount carriers like Southwest, Frontier, Midway, AirTran, and Alaska Airlines were keeping the big carriers in check by competing aggressively in cities large and small.
Then the economic bubble deflated, leisure flyers became few and far between, and oil spiked because of rising demand in the Far East and political turmoil in the Middle East. By November 2007, oil was above $90 per barrel, briefly shot to $148 per barrel in mid-2008, and hovered between $90 and $110 per barrel before dropping back down to 2007 levels by November.
When oil prices spiked in mid-2008, airlines began raising prices accordingly, upping them 12 percent in just three months for business travelers, according to the American Express Business Travel Monitor.
Some observers say the mushrooming credit crisis that's brought on spending cuts at most organizations has killed the airlines' ability to push up prices any further. "In 2008, they [airlines] hoped to cut capacity 10 percent while raising prices 20 percent," says Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition in Radnor, Pa. "The problem is that very few people are buying at those prices. This means that the recent fare hikes are coming off the table. It also should mean that airlines will be more aggressive in going after group business."
A study by American Express Business Travel also indicates that airfares are likely to continue to drop, though the cost of flying will remain high due to all those pesky fees — most airlines have imposed $15 to $25 fees for the first checked bag, plus fees for pre-assigned seats, snacks, and other small conveniences — which are only expected to continue. As US Airways President Scott Kirby puts it, "The industry is evolving to an a la carte model."
You Can't Get There from Here
Even as fares start to come down, the travel landscape for meetings may never again be what it was even just a few months ago. When things started going bad for the airlines, they began using larger planes that make fewer trips to and from fewer cities, resulting in a significant loss of flights as well as overall seat inventory (see chart, page 23). And airlines have declared their intentions to cut seat inventories by another 10 percent for 2009.
Even profitable Southwest has said it will cut 196 flights from its 2009 schedule, a 6 percent reduction. "A big problem for meetings is that we don't know where more seats are going to disappear," says Mitchell. If you are planning months or years out, "how can you be sure a destination is still going to work for you as the meeting draws closer?"
To compound the problem, several smaller carriers, including Aloha, ATA, and Skybus, could not stay in business, further narrowing flight choices, particularly to smaller cities. Various cities have varying stories — and solutions. In Providence, R.I., Martha Sheridan, president of that city's convention and visitors bureau, admits that route cuts by Southwest Airlines "will have some impact on our lift in 2009 because it is a major carrier here. But its fares and fees are staying down versus other airlines, so if an extra connection for travelers means they can still get here on Southwest, that would make a big difference in cost. If not, we are less than one hour from a major international airport in Boston."
In Tallahassee, Fla., the picture is bleaker, with a 30 percent drop in seats to the city. "Those seats were mostly on Delta from Cincinnati, but we still have lots of flights through Atlanta and Miami," says Katie Kole, director of sales and marketing at the CVB. Kole has shifted her sales pitch to focus on landing associations with a strong Southeastern base. "Also, we are seeing an increase in people driving here from up to five hours away. This brings big cities like Atlanta, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Mobile into play for us to draw attendees, and we will help associations do more marketing to members in those areas. And even though costs are already low here, at certain times of year many hotels will discount the third night, and offer gas cards to drive-in attendees."
Sheridan notes that although groups that opt for a second-tier city "may not be able to draw quite as much from their traditional feeder cities, they can make up for that with a different marketing focus. And if some fly-in attendees must stay in the destination an extra day because of tight flight availability, it's imperative for the bureau to publicize the entertainment and events in a city around that time so people decide it's worthwhile to come anyway."
The story is better in cities with a large corporate base, such as Charlotte, N.C., where seat capacity has dropped just 2.7 percent because of its concentration of Fortune 500 firms. And in St. Louis, business travel "is a greater proportion than for cities that rely heavily on leisure travel, so we will not have drastic flight cutbacks," reports Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the city's convention and visitors commission.
Rates and Minimums
Believe it or not, the news isn't all bad. The disappearance of leisure travelers and corporate employee travel cutbacks have left cities with a glut of empty hotel rooms. Some planners say that they have been getting calls from hotels that are looking to make a deal after another group has fallen through, even in big cities like Dallas; Atlanta; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and on meeting space as well as guest rooms. Some report that even their chain-level contacts are offering 5 percent off the master bill, upgrades, comped breaks, and double loyalty points.
The problem, though, is that airlines have revived the three-night minimum for many routes, and are trying to revive the Saturday-night stay for others. As Ratcliffe, former chairperson of MPI, points out, "If airlines suddenly try to regulate people into staying an extra night, many may opt not to come at all if they can't drive there."
Planners could opt to alter their event schedules so that meetings that traditionally see a significant drop-off on the final evening begin on a Saturday, to ensure lower fares without a three-night minimum. Something else to consider: It's possible that an imbalance of Thursday-to-Sunday meetings develops, which might provide a negotiating chip for groups that don't need to adhere to that pattern.
One thing seems certain, though: If airfares do become much higher for two-night stays, associations with a large fly-in contingent are going to see attendance suffer.
Plan B
For the National Association of Realtors' spring 2009 event in Colorado Springs, Colo. — a destination hit hard by air cutbacks — Gourley is prepared to provide busing from the Denver airport for those who simply can't find a suitable connection to Colorado Springs. Other cities, including Tucson, Ariz.; Milwaukee; Daytona, Fla.; Providence, R.I.; Columbus, Ohio; and San Diego also have the advantage of being located within reasonable driving distance of a larger city's airport.
Though some associations might be able to break their national meeting into regional events to get more drive-in attendance, Gourley says that won't work for all. "There are state and regional associations that hold their own meetings, and our annual event brings in a lot of international people too. We have to find solutions within the existing framework."
One option: Rather than bring the meeting to a city exclusively for its airlift, bring the meeting to a city with decent airlift but which is also located near a substantial concentration of members who can drive in. "For our future events, it bodes well for destinations that have higher realtor populations, so that we can get more drive-ins," says Gourley. "We will also shift our marketing dollars to make a stronger pitch to members in that region."
For Michelle Malloy, director of meetings for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, some cities have become more attractive because of the low cost of getting from the airport to the city center, which offsets somewhat the higher fares in cities with reduced seat capacity.
Fallback Position
If the recent past is any indicator of the near future, then planners might have little choice but to make a habit of becoming an expert in a potential destination's overall transportation situation, and then communicating options for getting to the host city to attendees as early as possible. Failing to do so can bring unpleasant surprises — notably a big slip in attendance because of potential attendees' inability to find convenient, direct flights at a reasonable cost.
Indeed, many planners simply might resort to using a small rotation of cities, as they find the ones that offer the transportation options, scheduling flexibility, and cost control their meetings need. Others are looking to hold as many meetings as they can at big, centrally located cities that will provide more drive-in options and reduce the number of potential attendees who might be daunted by the thought (and cost) of a coast-to-coast flight.
Jackie Newis, meetings manager for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, says that her July meeting in Chicago benefited from being centrally located, perhaps pushing back the pain that could be in store in future years.
"We usually rotate between a West Coast site, a Midwestern site, and a Southern site," she says. "But our people are very price-sensitive, so when it's time to use a particular region, we might have to account for what the airfares into that region will do to attendance. Hopefully we'll continue to not feel much negative effect, but with the way the economy is going we are not expecting that."
Related article:
Airline Crisis Front and Center for Destinations
Check out the travel-related posts on our face2face blog
Sidebar: Exhibitor Hassles
"For association events, the slowing economy and higher airfares is resulting in a reduction in total exhibitor attendance. This in turn is resulting in less exhibit space used, fewer room nights booked, and a reduction of off-site meal and entertainment spending.
"And as the hassle factor gets greater as airline seat availability shrinks, the hotels are seeing a lot more last-minute cancellations by exhibitors and attendees, which affects the attrition liability of the group as well as their negotiating leverage in the future. As a result, I think we're going to see associations netting down their contracted room counts an awful lot. And when their conventions take place, they might actually use the total number of rooms they did in the past, but many of those rooms won't count toward the block. So these groups won't be able to prove their total value, and the CVBs won't be able to report the total value to their local constituencies. Clearly, the ripple effects of the emerging climate will be serious."


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Brooklyn >Restaurants >
Pizza >Di Fara Pizzeria
1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY | Directions 1123040.625029 -73.961558
Wed-Fri noon-4 pm, 6:30-9 pm, Sat noon-4 pm, 7-9 pm, Sun 1-4 pm, 7-8 pm
Neighborhoods: Midwood
Yes, it's in the middle of nowhere. Yes, you have to wait a million years while owner Dom DeMarco painstakingly makes his pies one at a time. And yes, the pizza costs more than the crap sold on every corner. But these are masterpiece pies, unique in the world, and the standard by which all other pizza is judged. Live with it.
I was so skeptical at first, thinking, "what can make a $5 slice of pizza so special?" The ingredients are super fresh and its not like any other pizza you have tasted before.
Waited 2 hours to get a whole pizza. It was tasty although the ol' man doused the pizza with a bit too much olive oil for my liking. Also, I don't think think it was worth the wait. Slices are apparently easier to obtain. I would opt for that if you don't like to wait a long while.
a little overrated too sweet worth a try – this place was good but the on site fresh to order method of preparation process that everyones raving about doesnt translate into the amazing flaor you hear about. either way, its def worth finding out for yourself. have a slice!
Brooklyns best – This is a fantastic spot! The pizza is fresh with ingredients made that morning. When the stock is gone, they're closed for the day! Just wish you could get a pie at dinner time!
Deplorable attitudes!!!!!!!!!!! – I repeat: DEPLORABLE attitudes.
These people have absolutely no regard for their clientele. We experienced extremely dismissive attitudes from the employees (most particularly the daughter of the owner) and after waiting for 40 minutes, were told that they could not serve us because they were closing. We had arrived 15 minutes before this closing time and were not once informed that we would not be served.
A nice person in line ahead of us had ordered 3 slices and shared one with us. The pizza was good but I would never subject myself to such rude and unprofessional people like that again.
The Taste Still Lingers...Delicioso! – After living the surrounding environs of this Brooklyn neighborhood for 28 years, I finally surrendered my tastebuds to the experience that is Di Fara. While it's certainly not the Hilton, and could be WAY cleaner, my friend and I enjoyed a slice apiece ($5 per; a bit exorbitant, but ultimately worth it) of freshly made pizza with a crisp crust to die for, delicious tangy cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce (sweet and tangy all at once), and fresh, aromatic basil (and I do love me some basil!) My reserve almost weakened to order another slice, but my guilty dieting conscience got the better of me, and I took my time with the one I had. Domenico's pizza is truly 'artisanal'; made lovingly by hand in the true, time-tested way by someone who's been doing this for a good long time. This certainly isn't 'Domino's' (ugh!), or any mass-market pizza; it's the real deal. Don't know if I'd be spending $25-30 for a pie, unless I was in a splurging mood, but you sure can't go wrong if you do. They're closed Mondays and Tuesdays, after all, Dom's been making these for 47 years; he has earned a little 'me' time. If in Brooklyn, check it out, but don't expect anything fancy. Just good, hot and fresh old-world taste. Brava, Dom! Mangia bene!
To Die For – This has to be the BEST pizza in tahr entire world. Seriously, it is definitely worth the hour or so wait for a mouthwatering scrumptious experience. Run don't wak, to the best pizza EVER!!! Kevin
nothing stays the same – Been eating there forever moved upstate was in Bklyn dropped in. Everything looked the same BUT after watching Dom make a dozen or so pie,s I noticed that not one pie had buffalo mozz. put on it & the olive oil was not the same brand that he used to use.I asked him about it & got a strange answer"I USE WHAT THEY PUT IN FRONT OF ME" WHO ARE THEY?Sad to say we were very disapointed that day .If your out of buffalo mozz. then say so but to play dumb SHAME ON YOU. I,ll still drop in & give him another try hoping it,s made the rite way with buffalo mozz.
Best pizza I've ever had – I LOVE pizza. And I eat pizza almost every week, so I've had my fair share of pizza, but I must admit that THIS is the best pizza I've ever had. Which really surprised me because I live in Brooklyn near Grimaldi's - and I have always considered their pizza to be one of the best I've ever had.
After reading all this hype about Di Fara, I finally gave in and made the trek to Midwood. And I must say, it was not only worth the trip, but it was worth the wait.
Dom makes each individual pizza by himself. He really does use the freshest cheese and the most delicious tomatoes. He meticulously grinds the cheese for ever pie and then hand cuts the basil leaves for the finishing touch.
I ordered the regular round pie and when I took the first bite, I was hooked. The pie was baked to perfection and you can taste the freshness of the tomatoes and the cheese. After finishing a whole pie, I could see myself going for more (but I didn't) because I was full. But I was REALLY tempted because it was THAT good.
You should run there ASAP since Dom is the only one that makes the pizza but he's been scaling back the hours. He was open 7 days a week, then reduced it to 6, and now it's only open 5 days a week (closed Monday and Tuesday.) Hurry before it's too late and he retires! You don't want to miss it.
Highly recommended and totally worth the wait.
Great pizza - terrible wait! – I do quite enjoy the pizza here, but the wait is unbelievably long. I have to carve out 2 hours of my day to get this pizza, and 3 times now I have arrived to find the store mysteriously closed. I am so frustrated with this place that I will never make the trip again.
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'Everything Is a Mystery'
How to Be Perfect
Messenger: New and Selected Poems, 1976–2006
Here are two poets who've been writing extraordinary poems and who deserve to be better known. Born just a year apart, their work is, however, as different as night and day. Or so it would at first appear. Critics say of Ellen Voigt that she has a "naturalist's devotion to the physical world" and of Ron Padgett that he is a kind of Pop artist with a passion for comic strips, movies, and other aspects of popular culture. Put this way, the two aesthetics not only sound irreconcilable, they also convey the impression that a poem about a squirrel in a tree will be more authentic than one about a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Not to my mind. Reading Padgett one realizes that playfulness and lightness of touch are not at odds with seriousness, while reading Voigt one comes to understand that what we think of as reality is the product of both painstaking observation and the imagination. The either-or position, which appeals to those who like to believe that there is only one way to write great poetry, ignores the common experience that in the last two centuries memorable poems have come in many guises. The richness of American poetry eludes the dogmatic critic and the timid reader. It is possible to love both Robert Frost and Kenneth Koch and not be a dunce. To make my claim more persuasive, let me quote a couple of poems I admire, from Padgett and then Voigt.
It's not that hard to climb up
on a cross and have nails driven
into your hands and feet.
Of course it would hurt, but
if your mind were strong enough
you wouldn't notice. You
would notice how much farther
you can see up here, how
there's even a breeze
that cools your leaking blood.
The hills with olive groves fold in
to other hills with roads and huts,
flocks of sheep on a distant rise.
The neck lodged under a stick,
the stick under her foot,
she held the full white breast
with both hands, yanked up and out,
and the head was delivered of the body.
Brain stuck like a lens; the profile
fringed with red feathers.
Deposed, abstracted,
the head lay on the ground like a coin.
But the rest, released into the yard,
language and direction wrung from it,
flapped the insufficient wings
and staggered forward, convulsed, instinctive—
I thought it was sobbing to see it hump the dust,
pulsing out those muddy juices,
as if something deep in the gizzard,
in the sack of soft nuggets,
drove it toward the amputated member.
Even then, watching it litter the ground
with snowy refusals, I knew it was this
that held life, gave life,
and not the head with its hard contemplative eye.
The first poem is from Padgett's book You Never Know (2001), and Voigt's comes from Claiming Kin (1976), and is included in her new book, Messenger. I find both …


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Select a datex
Towering peaks and cascading waterfalls - this has to be the spectacular Milford Sound. Described as the 'Eighth Natural Wonder of the World', this cruise will take you past the incredible Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls and Seal Point. See marine life in their natural environment as you discover the magic of this deep fiord.
Nestled in the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is described as the 'Eighth Natural Wonder of the World'. The only way to truly appreciate the splendor of this area is to enjoy a spectacular Milford Sound cruise.
A cruise is the perfect way to discover the beautiful scenery of this famous fiord, including the incredible Mitre Peak, which at a height of 1,692 meters (5,560 feet), is one of the highest mountains in the world to rise directly from the ocean floor, as well as stunning waterfalls that crash down into the serene waters. Wildlife such as dolphins, seals and penguins are often seen in their natural environment. The Milford Sound cruise along the southern side of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea and return up the northern side, stopping at all points of interest along the way, including Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls and Seal Point.
Schedule details
Milford Sound Sightseeing Cruise including Optional Lunch
Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.
Departure Point:Milford Wharf Visitor Centre
Departure Time:
- 11:00am
- 1:30pm
Return Details:Returns to original departure point
Pricing information
Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
Tour options:
Departs at 11:00am. Includes Sightseeing cruise with complimentary tea and coffee
Departs at 11:00am. Includes Sightseeing cruise, buffet lunch with complimentary tea and coffee
Departs at 1:30pm. Includes Sightseeing cruise with complimentary tea and coffee
Departs at 1:30pm. Includes Sightseeing cruise, buffet lunch with complimentary tea and coffee
Additional information
Milford Sound Sightseeing Cruise including Optional Lunch
- Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Buffet lunch (if option selected)
- Full commentary
- Tea and coffee are provided complimentary to all passengers
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Hotel pickup and drop off
Additional Information:
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Car Park: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively a complimentary shuttle service is provided from the Blue Duck Cafe.
- Wheelchair accessible onto boat but no disabled toilets onboard. Vessel has large viewing windows, ideal for wheelchairs.
Voucher Info:
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Local Operator Information:
Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.


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Drag Race Car Mild steel cage and tube chassis, 8.50 certified (expired), 4 Link Rear, Afco double adjustable shocks, Ford 9", 4.56 gears (I think), 4 wheel disc brakes, wheelie bars, chute, Mustang II fronts, All steel except hood and bumpers, Lexan windows, 2450 lbs, Kirkey seat, 33x16.5, Glide tranny just freshened 3 passes ago, Air shifter, Air start line enhance, Set up for blown, injected, alky, sbc (Includes motor plates, and zoomie headers, Less motor, Enderle fuel system, and mag). Fits a large driver no problem. $10K obo. Can help with delivery.
Call or text Bill at 505-414-4245
6-71 blower, Super Mag IV, and Enderle fuel system may be purchased separately.
More photos can be seen at:
http://s1009.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... 7123/Taxi/
May consider trades +/- for Side by side, UTV, Polaris RZR, Yamaha Rhino, Kawasaki Teryx, or the likes, preferably a 4 seater.


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Eden Outdoor Bed
Now your buddy can rest easy while hanging outside. The Eden Outdoor Bed provides comfort and support for dogs that spend time outdoors. Utilizing fade resistant state-of-the-art crypton stay clean fabric, this bed is built to withstand the elements.
Colors: Surfside or Sunset
Customers Ratings and Reviews
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers


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Wrestling Headgear
Cliff Keen Signature Headgear$32.95
Cliff Keen Tornado Headgear$32.95
Out of stock
Training and competing in MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu involves alot of wrestling which many times leads to that nasty cauliflower ear no one likes to get. At MMA Industries we offer the top brands in wrestling headgear needed to protect those ears and keep you in the game. Shop MMA Industries and you'll know you bought from the best!


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You're leaving Wedding Paper Divas to see the Deal of the Day at our parent site, Tiny Prints.
You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"I used this layout for our save the dates and we absolutely love them!! They came out better than we expected, thank you so much wedding paper divas! We are one happy couple over here :) Highly recommend this layout and company to order from."
"They turned out beautifully! I cannot wait to send to my wedding guests! I also really love that you can reorder a few more at the price you paid for a larger quantity! Very impressed"
"I love the high grade magnet! The photo finish was beautiful. It really set the tone. Shipped in great time, & I really loved the packaging! Great job"
"I ordered the elegant vows in the green color. The quality of the image was excellent. I did order the thick matte paper and this was too thick. It kinda made them seem to be like coasters. Will order in different paper. The printing and shipping is very fast. It came faster than anticipated."
"The magnet was great! My fiancée & I handed them out at our engagement party and our guests loved it! My only complaint is that the template does not accommodate very many characters for name and location. Otherwise it's perfect!"


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Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart's two lower pumping chambers (ventricles). These extra beats disrupt your regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing you to feel a flip-flop or skipped beat in your chest. Premature ventricular contractions are very common — they occur in most people at some point.
Premature ventricular contractions are also called:
If you have occasional premature ventricular contractions, but you're an otherwise healthy person, there's generally no reason for concern, and no treatment is needed. If you have frequent premature ventricular contractions or underlying heart disease, you may need treatment to help you feel better and treat underlying heart problems.
Premature ventricular contractions often cause no symptoms. But you may feel an odd sensation in your chest, such as:
If you feel flip-flops, a sensation of skipped heartbeats or odd feelings in your chest, talk to your doctor. You'll want to identify the source of these symptoms. Premature ventricular contractions may be the problem, but other conditions also may be to blame, including other rhythm problems, serious heart problems, anxiety, anemia or infections.
Your heart is made up of four chambers — two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). The rhythm of your heart is normally controlled by the sinoatrial node (SA node) — or sinus node — an area of specialized cells located in the right atrium. This natural pacemaker produces the electrical impulses that trigger the normal heartbeat. From the sinus node, electrical impulses travel across the atria to the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood out to your lungs and body.
Premature ventricular contractions are abnormal contractions that begin in the ventricles. These extra contractions usually beat sooner than the next expected regular heartbeat. And they often interrupt the normal order of pumping, which is atria first, then ventricles. As a result, the extra, out-of-sync beats are usually less effective in pumping blood throughout the body.
The reasons aren't always clear. Certain triggers, heart diseases or changes in the body can make cells in the ventricles electrically unstable. Underlying heart disease or scarring may also cause electrical impulses to be misrouted. Premature ventricular contractions may be associated with:
The following stimulants, conditions and triggers may increase your risk of premature ventricular contractions:
If you have frequent premature ventricular contractions or certain patterns of premature ventricular contractions, you may be at increased risk of developing heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Rarely, when accompanied by underlying heart disease, frequent premature contractions can lead to chaotic, dangerous heart rhythms and possibly sudden cardiac death.
You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions (cardiologist).
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.
For premature ventricular contractions, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions that may occur to you during your appointment.
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
While you wait for your appointment, check with your family members to find out if any relatives have been diagnosed with heart problems. Although premature ventricular contractions are usually harmless, the symptoms of this condition mimic those of many other cardiac illnesses. Knowing your family health history will help your doctor plan the right diagnostic tests and treatments, based on your individual risks.
It will also help your doctor to know what triggers your symptoms. In the time leading up to your appointment, take note of any substances or activities that seem to bring on the strange sensations in your chest.
If your doctor suspects that you have premature ventricular contractions, you may have an electrocardiogram (ECG). This test can detect the extra beats, identify their pattern and their source, and look for any underlying heart disease.
If you experience infrequent premature ventricular contractions, they may not be detected during the brief time a standard ECG is being done. You may need to use a Holter monitor or event recorder for 24 hours or more to capture any abnormal rhythms:
A Holter monitor or event recorder can help identify the pattern of your premature ventricular contractions. The occurrence of more than three premature ventricular beats in a row is called ventricular tachycardia — which can cause symptoms and be a sign of serious heart disease.
Most people with premature ventricular contractions and an otherwise normal heart won't need treatment. Rarely, if you have frequent, bothersome symptoms, you may be offered treatment to help you feel better, but PVCs are typically not harmful.
In some cases, if you have underlying heart disease that could lead to more serious rhythm problems, you may need to make efforts to avoid triggers or perhaps take medications.
If you have very frequent PVCs associated with underlying heart disease and periods of ventricular tachycardia, your doctor might recommend treatment for the underlying condition.
The following self-care strategies can help control premature ventricular contractions and improve your heart health:
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-ventricular-contractions/basics/definition/con-20030205
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Views: 103
I think the ratings aren't as harsh as they seem. Generally, I'm trying to go by this system:
1 - As theoretically awful as you can get. Ineptly written, produced, and/or recorded.
2 -Very Bad
3 - Bad
4 - Kinda Bad
5 - Neutral. As minor positive characteristics as negative
6 - Pretty good
7 - Solidly good. Enjoyable though lots of room for improvement.
8 - Very good
9 - Excellent. Top notch and about as good as you can get.
10 - Perfect. Song is constructed perfectly for maximum impact and succeeds on every level. No room for improvement.
Songs I'd rate 10 -
Velvet Underground's "Heroin" because of it's great melody, great arrangement and instrumentation/performance, tense/relaxed structure that gradually gets more and more frenetic until it finally resolves.
Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean". Three superb melodies in the verse, prechorus, chorus. The lyrics, melody, and arrangement compliment each other perfectly to create such great tension.
Outkast's "Bombs Over Baghdad". Dense when it needs to be, sparse when it needs to be. The only reprieve is the intro before pure freneticism for four or so minutes. Listen to the second verse how it's just Big Boi rapping over the drum loop. Halfway through, an arpeggiating synth line enters and the drum loop sputters in line with his lyrics. A guitar enters and it charges into the chorus. Superbly thought out songwriting and arranging is really what gets me on this one. The song is like a journey too with that great coda.
Memories Tour 4 Australia said:
Your reviews are actually well-thought out and sometimes I agree, but your scores are far too harsh, even ruling out nostalgia (I'm a relatively new fan, no nostalgia, and I know for certain that no track on the blue album deserves lower than an 8, let alone a 5).
Out of curiosity, what are some of your 10/10 songs?


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Messenger RNA Therapeutics™ can be applied to meet patient needs across a broad range of diseases. Initially, we will focus in key disease areas where high unmet medical needs demand safe, efficacious, and innovative therapies: Inherited Genetic Disorders, Hemophilic and Blood Factors, and Oncology. We are also engaging in strategic option agreements with AstraZeneca and Alexion Pharmaceuticals in other disease areas to ensure this important innovation reaches patients as quickly as possible.
Moderna has completed preclinical proof-of-concept studies. We have shown that messenger RNA Therapeutics™ can successfully induce in vivo production of dozens of effector proteins through intra-muscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous administration; and have demonstrated safety and efficacy in multiple preclinical models, including non-human primates.
We can generate and test new drug candidates of messenger RNA Therapeutics™ in animals in a matter of weeks, dramatically accelerating the speed of drug development, as well as reducing the cost and risk traditionally associated with discovering and delivering new medicines to patients. This speed, and the flexibility of our enabling technology to address any number of diseases, is giving rise to a robust portfolio of therapeutic candidates.
Watch this space to see how we grow in the coming months.


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Lace Detail Babydoll Set
was: $30.00
This two-piece babydoll set is all you need to be a gorgeous bedtime flirt! Features empire-cut tank top with V-neck and lace underbust, and adjustable satin straps. A matching hipster panty completes the look.
- 95% rayon, 5% spandex
- Imported
- Machine wash in cold water, gentle cycle.
- Do not use chlorine bleach.
- Hang to dry.
- Iron at low setting.
- Can be dry cleaned.


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The path to your current location in our website is:
Converse With the State Librarian and Library Staff about Resources for Small Businesses
On Tuesday, February 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., join Jennifer Podolsky, business outreach specialist for the NJ State Library, and Karen Parry, manager of information services at East Brunswick Public Library, for a podcast discussion on the services NJ libraries are offering to businesses and entrepreneurs. You will be able to ask questions during the podcast. The panel will try to answer all of them; however, if they run out of time, answers will be included in the podcast show notes when it is posted to the State Library website.
To register for the podcast go to : https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/176127810.


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Former state Rep. James Thomas, accused of sexually abusing a female student at the school where he was principal, was bound over to a grand jury Tuesday.
Wilcox County District Judge Jo Celeste Pettway found sufficient evidence to send the case to the grand jury following a three-hour hearing.
Read the full story from The Montgomery Advertiser.


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Disclaimer: This scientific independent research is provided by Aisle7 and is for informational use only. GNC provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. Likewise, Aisle7 does not recommend or endorse any specific products.I accept these terms
GNC Preventive NutritionŽ Healthy Testosterone Formula
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GNC Preventive NutritionŽ Healthy Testosterone Formula60 Caplets
Price: was $69.99 Now $55.99
$3.99 Flat Rate Shipping! Details
AVAILABILITY: In stock, Ships in 1-2 full bus. days. Details
- Description
- Multi-action formula designed to support testosterone & DHEA levels that decline with age*
- Clinically shown to improve sexual health, blood flow and optimal vitality*
- Fuels lean muscle mass & supports a healthy metabolism*
Testosterone , Hormone & Sexual Health Support-
Testosterone, the most important male sex hormone, helps the body produce and maintain adult male features. As men age, testosterone levels gradually decline- producing less than they did during their teen and early adult years when production of this hormone peaks. By about age 70, the decrease in a man's testosterone level can be as much as 50 percent.* Healthy testosterone levels help maintain sex drive, sperm production, muscle strength and mass and bone density. This formula combines TestofenŽ from fenugreek seed extract, clinically shown to improve sexually health with DHEA, a precursor to testosterone and saw palmetto for normal prostate function and healthy urinary flow.*
Lean Muscle Support-
Includes leucine, the key branched chain amino acid in regulating muscle protein synthesis, to help fuel the growth and repair of skeletal muscles.* Contains dietary betaine to provide important molecules that support normal cell growth, a healthy cardiovascular system and liver health.*
Circulatory Pump Support-
Features clinically studied resVidaŽ Resveratrol to enhance blood vessel dilation and protect against free radicals that can destroy healthy cells, damage tissue and promote the cell-aging process.*
Energy and Metabolism Support-
Contains ginseng, which is traditionally used to support vitality and overall well-being, and a vitamin and mineral complex including key B vitamins and copper to support energy production and metabolic processes.*
GNC Preventive Nutrition Ž products have been scientifically developed utilizing the expertise of the GNC Medical Advisory Board. Each premium formula designed to be used in conjunction with your physician recommended healthcare regimen. This line of products is precisely formulated to provide clinical strength ingredients and additional nutrients that address key health concerns.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
- Supplement Facts
As a dietary supplement, take two caplets daily. For maximum benefits, take as directed every.
Serving Size 2 Caplets Servings Per Container 30
- Health Notes
Simple Steps to Boost TestosteroneSimple Steps to Boost TestosteroneDon't discount the importance of your everyday lifestyle choices in keeping T-levels stableBoth men and women may be affected by low testosterone, the hormone that regulates metabolism and sex organs, among other actions. Treatment often involves medication-but don't discount the importance of your everyday lifestyle choices in keeping T-levels stable:
- Get your ZZZ's. Skimping on sleep may lower testosterone levels, so make sure you get 7 or 8 hours a night.
- Give stress the slip. Take care to set up your life with a healthy balance of work and pleasure. Relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga may support optimal hormone production.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is tied to lower testosterone. Staying active, eating nutrition-dense foods, and staying away from processed foods may help you shed weight, which in turn may improve T-levels.
- Take note of your nutrition. Increase good fats from nuts, avocado, fish, eggs, and so on. Decrease sugar.
- Move more. Resistance training builds muscles and tells your body to make more testosterone.
- Explore supplement options. Talk to your doctor about supplements that may provide some natural testosterone support, such as AKG, arginine, L-carnitine, vitamins B6, B12, D and zinc.
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CytoSport™ Muscle Milk® - Chocolate
4.94 lb(s).
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Crocheted Puffy Pillow
Material List
- Loops & Threads(R) Pom Pom™ Yarn (3 oz./85 grams) – Confetti (5 Balls)
- Crochet Hook, US K-10½ (6.5mm) or Size to Obtain Gauge
- Square Pillow Form, 12"
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
Project Instructions
9 sts and 10 rows = 4". Use any size hook necessary to obtain specified gauge.
Row 1: Ch 32, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across; turn – 31 sc.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each of sc across; turn – 31 sc.
Rows 3-61: Rep Row 2; do not fasten off.
Row 62: Fold piece in half, matching Rows 1 and 61, sc through both thicknesses forming a tube. Place pillow form inside the tube.
Working through both thicknesses along one side edge, join yarn with a sl st in corner, ch 1, sc in same place as joining and evenly across side edge; fasten off. Rep for second side edge. Weave in ends.
ch –chain
mm –millimeter
rep –repeat
sc –single crochet
sl st –slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)


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In 1881, the Cincinnati Reds franchise was established, originally as the Cincinnati Red Stockings before becoming the Reds in 1890. They are members of the National League Central Division. They play their home games at the Great American Ball Park, which was built right next to their old home of Riverfront Stadium. The Reds have been a very successful franchise since its founding in 1881. They have 10 Division Championships and 9 National League Pennants. They have won the World Series 5 times in 1919, 1940, 1975, 1976, and 1990. The Reds team from 1970-76 is often referred to as The Big Red Machine because of their on the field dominance.Notable players and coaches that wore the Reds uniform are Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, and Sparky Anderson. We are proud to offer you all of the Reds gear and merchandise you need right here. Show your team pride with something new from our website today!
We are here to help! It is our goal to make your shopping experience FUN! Give us a call at 908-258-7228 or email us and we will be glad to assist you. For some background on us, why not learn about our comapny culture or read what our customers have said about us by checking out our reviews and ratings page.Browse our website for a wide selection of Cincinnati Reds Merchandise.. Not interested in Cincinnati Reds products, then go here for a full listing of Gifts by Team. Find thousands of quality items throughout our Sports Memorabilia Supplies Store with tons of new items arriving daily including Padres Collectibles and Mariners Collectibles. Shop By Player featuring sports gifts by player. Check out our just released products or shop for
autographed sports memorabilia or sports equipment


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When individuals are ready to apply for jobs, GGW provides resources to help them conduct job searches, write resumes, and practice their interviewing skills. After clients find employment, workforce development specialists regularly consult with them to assess their progress and determine the need for additional services. In some cases, GGW may provide intensive services such as on-site job coaching to help them adjust to their new work environment.
Job placement services are offered to those who:
- Successfully complete our training program or recieves services via our Disability Services Team.
- Have a true desire to work, and
- Are willing to devote 20 or more hours a week in job searching.
- Review career seeker's current and past work status and history
- Conduct skills and career assessments
- Advise career seekers on job search techniques, resume writing, and interviewing skills
- Assist with searching and confirming available positions that compliment clients' skills and provide potential growth opportunities
- Conduct mock interviews
- Refer career seekers to other community based agencies, organizations, and resources to meet their needs
- Seek methods to help career seekers maintain employment and adapt to the workplace environment
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Sale $24.50
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Touchdown! This kids' Oakland Raiders watch is a winning pick. Treat your little football fan to this Game Time silver-tone watch.
- Round black dial with luminous hands and markers allows easy reading.
- Details:
- Water resistant to 30 meters
- Quartz movement
- Battery operated
- Shock resistant
- Silver-tone case
- Stainless steel caseback
- Adjustable black Velcro band
- Manufacturer's lifetime limited warranty
- Model no. NFL-ROB-OAK
- Promotional offers available online at Kohls.com may vary from those offered in Kohl's stores.


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This season it's sugar-coated shades verses traditional tan in the battle of the bags. Detailing comes in the form of tassels and turn locks, and coordinated shoe and clutch combos mean that searching for a match is no longer a task.Prints are wilder than ever with both snake and leopard continuing to cause a stir and feminine florals are a sign that spring is in the air
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Degree Description
The BBA courses in marketing enable students to:
define marketing opportunities;
plan and carry out marketing strategies;
manage sales and salespeople; and
engage in professional sales activities. The marketing program prepares individuals for challenging careers in both profit and non-profit organizations.
The Department of Marketing and Economics assesses the extent the marketing program requirements create the desired outcomes by using a variety of techniques. Examples of these assessments include:
Educational Outcome :
Students must complete a test of conceptual knowledge in marketing in the marketing capstone course.
Students must prepare and present a marketing plan in the marketing capstone course.
Students must prepare and present a comprehensive business case in the business capstone course.
B.B.A Degree with a major in Marketing (BBA)
Marketing Major Educational Outcomes:
Marketing majors will be knowledgeable of current behavior theory and be able to apply it in target market selection.
Marketing majors will be able to develop a marketing mix capable of reaching a selected target market.
Marketing majors will be capable of developing and implementing a small-scale marketing research project.
Marketing majors will demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of global markets and global issues affecting marketing strategies.
Assessment of the educational outcomes for the Marketing major is primarily the responsibility of the Marketing faculty. Assessment is one part of ensuring curriculum effectiveness. The faculty use a variety of methods to assess the learning outcomes including examinations, quizzes, oral presentations, written assignments, research papers, and projects. The faculty use the assessment results to continuously review and improve the economics curriculum.


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Kwatee Agile Deployment is a lightweight automated server software deployment tool targeted at Independent Software Vendors and Cloud Service Providers. Designed for the flexible needs of agile teams, Kwatee installs or updates PHP sites, Java Web apps, Windows services, n-tier applications, etc. in your local network or in the cloud and on virtually any operating system. It shortens software update delivery projects by an order of magnitude but also benefits developers, testers, and technical support in their daily activities.
4DIAC is a framework for distributed industrial automation and control. It aims to provide an open, IEC-61499-compliant basis that lets the user establish a distributed industrial automation and control environment based on the targets' portability, configurability, and interoperability.
BlueMind is a messaging and collaboration platform. It offers scalable shared messaging, calendars, contacts, and instant messaging with advanced mobility (iPhone, iPad, Android, etc.), and Outlook, Thunderbird, and CalDAV connectivity support. Designed with simplicity as a goal, it uses Web 2.0 technologies with a JavaScript UI, offline Web capability, and a Web-services-oriented pluggable architecture.
A video conversion tool.
A friendly task manager.


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The Live Simply® Geometric Whale T-Shirt honors the most lyrical of sea-dwellers. Work by Japanese silk-screening artist Naomi Kazama is printed on an ultrafine (40-singles), ringspun organic cotton T-shirt using inks that are PVC- and phthalate-free. The slightly shaped T-shirt has an athletic, Classic Boy fit and traditional crewneck for low-key style.
- Ultrafine 40-singles ringspun organic cotton
- Screen-print inks are PVC- and phthalate-free
- Classic cut, perfect with jeans for everyday wear
- Artist: Naomi Kazama
- 4-oz 100% organic cotton
- 153 g (5.4 oz)
- Made in USA.
Organic cotton is produced using techniques that are healthy and safe for the environment and the people who work and live near the fields where it's grown. Organic cotton is never grown with synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or defoliants, nor is it genetically modified in any way.


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Ponting under par at New Zealand Open
Former Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting used to win attention in New Zealand for his high scores, but it was his low score at the New Zealand Golf Open that caught the eye on Thursday. Ponting had six birdies in a combined 7-under par opening round of 65 with playing partner Tony Popovic in the pro-am, best ball section of the tournament. Ponting and Popovic were still five...
Via AP on Fox
February 27, 2014 | Discuss
Watson Shut Down for Rest of Season
Shane Watson, Image- Jay Floyd Last year's top Phillies draft pick Shane Watson has been sidelined with shoulder issues since early July. Following an MRI this past week, the Phils have shut down the righty hurler, who turns 20-years-old on Tuesday. Initially, the time off was prescribed for the Class A Lakewood hurler without an MRI when the he was experiencing shoulder fatigue...
Via Phillies Nation
August 11, 2013 | Discuss
5Qtv | Monty Panesar the first Asian player to break into the England Cricket Team.
Monty Panesar story as a poor kid from Luton to the becoming one of the worlds best spin bowlers. [via wehustletv]
Via 5TH QUARTER MAGAZINE
August 08, 2013 | Discuss
Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting makes spectacular diving catch
Ricky Ponting, 'Punter' to friends, did this. **Follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Subscribe, or Return to BobsBlitz.com.Follow us on Twitter. Subscribe or Return to Bob's Blitz. Full story at Bob's Blitz ~ http://www.bobsblitz.com
Via Bob's Blitz
April 10, 2013 | Discuss
Today in Sports History (2/8): Kapil Dev Sets the World Record for Test Cricket Wickets
On February 8th, 1994, former Indian Cricketer Kapil Dev broke Richard Hadlee's wicket-taking world record, becoming the world record holder. Dev broke the previous record of 431 wickets by 1 wicket. Not only did he break Hadlee's record, 35-year-old Dev also famously promised that he would reach at least 450 wickets by the time he retired (he only made it to 434). However, by...
Via Metta Chronicles
February 08, 2013 | Discuss
Flintoff unsure about boxing future as debut looms
Having lost more than 22 kilograms to make his boxing debut, former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff is leaving open the possibility of fighting again. Flintoff takes on American fighter Richard Dawson in a heavyweight bout on Friday in Manchester, England, as part of a British TV documentary charting his switch from cricket to boxing. Flintoff said Thursday that '&...
Via AP on Fox
November 29, 2012 | Discuss
Cricketer's cup cracked after taking ball to groin
This cup-splitting "nut shot" is a painful highlight to watch. I don't know much about cricket, but I do know that any time you are hit in your protective cup and it breaks that it is not a good thing. New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson's day took a horrible change for the worse when he takes a direct shot to the groin from the opposing teams pitcher (or whatever...
Via Sweater Punch
March 29, 2012 | Discuss
David Hussey in obstructing-the-field incident
David Hussey came close to being given out handling the ball/obstructing the field, but the umpires ruled him not out under laws that remain open to interpretation
Segway cameraman crashes at cricket match
There is nothing sweeter than seeing someone on a Segway take a spill. Watch as this unsuspecting Segway riding cameraman crashes at an Australian cricket match in front of millions. Joe the Cameraman is known to the Australian public for some of his other on-air shenanigans and this wipeout will only add to his legacy. We can all thank an unattended goalkeepers helmet for...
Via Sweater Punch
February 20, 2012 | Discuss
Lee out of tri-series with broken foot
Brett Lee has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Bank Series after suffering a broken foot during Australia's Twenty20 loss at the MCG on Friday
Video: Cricket player makes amazing catch
You don't have to understand cricket to realize that this catch is awesome. I have no idea what is going on in this match with those weird flat bats and the poles behind the batter, but I can appreciate the unbelievable diving catch that this New Zealand cricketer makes. Robbing a hit equivalent to a home run, Bevan Small has thrown his name in the ring for the top catch of...
Via Sweater Punch
February 03, 2012 | Discuss
Imran Khan: Tendulkar should have left after WCup
Former Pakistan captain and allrounder Imran Khan said Tuesday Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar should have retired after the ''ultimate high'' of a World Cup victory at home last year. ''The best time for him to have gone was when India won the World Cup,'' Khan told the CNN-IBN news channel. ''He is such a great player and there is...
Via AP on Fox
January 31, 2012 | Discuss
Muralitharan back at Gloucestershire for T20s
Muttiah Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in Test and ODI cricket, will be back at Gloucestershire this year to play a part in the county's Friends Life t20 campaign
Another day, another cricket segway blooper
Jumping Jesus on a pogo stick! People wiping out on Segways while tooling around on the cricket pitch is turning into a freaking epidemic, people! According to Sports Grid, the crash victim in this particular video was Ian Healey, a former cricket player-turned commentator. And his attempt at hopping off the Segway only to gloriously [...]
Via Sportress of Blogitude
December 29, 2011 | Discuss
England Cricket Legend Harmison Shocked By Newcastle Decision Over Stadium Name
Newcastle United SunderlandEngland cricket legend Steve Harmison has hit out at the renaming of St James' Park.read more
Via Ghanasoccernet
November 10, 2011 | Discuss
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Compact headset with a convenient multitouch button
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City officials in Weaver, Anniston and Jacksonville hope to correct that in the near future. A project spearheaded by the Weaver City Council will place overhead signs on either end of the trail's crossings into Anniston and Jacksonville, welcoming bike traffic to the respective cities both ways.
"The trail for Weaver is kind of a focal point," said Mayor Wayne Willis. "We're always looking for ways to use that."
Willis said he expects construction of the signs to begin any day and once complete, will put Weaver on the map as far as cyclists on the trail are concerned.
Patrick Wigley, owner of Wig's Wheels bike shop in Anniston, said any signs or markers on trails are interesting and useful to riders.
"It's like on the interstate when you see a sign like, 96 miles to Louisville," Wigley said. "You know how far you have to go, and where you are. It's interesting to ride through the towns."
But other than name recognition, added benefit it'll have for Weaver might be minimal. Willis said while Anniston officials work on extending the trail through the heart of downtown and enticing riders to check out the city's restaurants and stores, Weaver's portion of the trail already acts like a highlights package for the city. Once crossing into Weaver, the trail contains an entrance to the city's main park as well as crossing Main Street.
For experienced bikers, stops are rare and far between on trips on the Ladiga, Wigley said. But certain places can become destinations through word-of-mouth. Wigley said in particular the square in Jacksonville and the Solid Rock Café in Piedmont have become routine markers, with the latter a popular halfway stop for Anniston cyclists trekking 40 miles round-trip on the trail.
"We kind of planned it that way," said Molly Trainer, an employee at Solid Rock Café, who said on weekends they can average 15 riders a day to the restaurant. "We're so close to the trail and we try to advertise to them and have healthy foods available."
Weaver doesn't have a spot like Solid Rock. Its only restaurant is Heroes American Bar and Grille on Alabama 21 – not exactly a quick or safe ride for cyclists on the trail. But like in Piedmont, the Ladiga crosses right through the city's small downtown district, and Willis said he thinks the crossing of Main Street can be an inviting stop for riders.
"Later this year we're going to repave Main Street and have new sidewalks," Willis said. "I hope people riding through will stop down there."
A Dollar General and the Bearcat Express convenience store are just a few feet from the trail's Main Street intersection, and a new grocery store Willis hopes will be open by the fall is even closer.
Stopping points to buy a bottle of water and a quick snack are of great interest to Birmingham native Rebecca Phillips. On Wednesday morning, Phillips was unloading her bicycle on the trail's entrance in Anniston for a 100-mile trek. Phillips said Weaver's sign didn't mean much to her, but any place with a convenient stop to stretch out for a bit is always welcome.
"We always stop once or twice," said Phillips, who said she didn't plan ahead where those breaks might take place. "Any time we see a town or something like that, it's always a good spot to refuel."
Staff writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star.


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If you go
'MacBeth, a Love Story'
What: Shakespeare in Paradise presents a targeted, abridged version of the bard's classic
Where: Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays Jan. 20 through 30
Admission: $20 for NBG Members, $25 non-members
Reservations: 643-7275
Something else: A play, plus four-course wine dinner catered by Artichoke & Co. at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 20; $100, members; $125, others, proceeds benefit the Garden
Event Details
- What: Dinner and Show: Opening of "Macbeth, A Love Story"
- When: Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Where: Naples Botanical Garden
- Cost: $20 - $25
- Age limit: All ages
Event Details
- What: Shakespeare in the Garden: Macbeth, a Love Story
- Where: Naples Botanical Garden
- Cost: $20 - $25
- Age limit: All ages
Is it OK to tweak a timeless classic? John McKerrow thinks so.
And he hopes Naples theatergoers think so, too. He is the founder of the "Shakespeare in Paradise" theater company and he will bring his revamped version of "Macbeth" to the Naples Botanical Gardens, starting Jan. 20. His offering: "Macbeth, A Love Story."
But there's a catch — "Love Story" has a cast of only four. Playing the lead role in a "Macbeth" production at the Laboratory Theater Fort Myers two years ago, inspired him to create this play, he says. He wanted to bring Shakespeare to Naples.
"In one of the most affluent places in the country … It's high time we have a professional Shakespeare company," said McKerrow, 48. "Naples is a rising arts destination."
Although McKerron did away with most of the characters, all of the original dialogue of the four characters remains intact.
"My idea was to make a shortened version (of Macbeth) and just try to get right to the point, with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth," McKerrow says with a confident tone. "They're sort of a power couple."
In McKerrow's pared down version of "Macbeth," he turns the focus solely on the two main characters: Macbeth and Lady M. But there are other differences between the original and McKerrow's reworking.
The wardrobe has gotten a makeover. Out: the standard-issue tunic traditional Macbeth might normally don. In: A black tuxedo fit for a more stately modern man.
So what about Lady M? Kathleen Butler Gravatt plays opposite McKerrow as Lady Macbeth, the amorous and ambitious wife of the would-be-king. Perched on the edge of a white sofa while wearing her costume — a fiery red evening gown, with a sequin design — Gravatt discusses her character's attire and attitude.
"It just says 'queen' to me," Gravatt says of her choice of garb. She says her wardrobe reflects her character's flair: "I think she's extremely feminine and sexual … and their connection is deep and electric," Gravatt says.
While some might expect a Shakespeare theater company to lead with "Romeo and Juliet," Gravatt explains why she likes "Macbeth" as an opener.
"Romeo and Juliet have still got a long way to go … they're still concerned about trying to achieve an orgasm," says the 52-year old Naples resident. "I'm way too jaded."
With a smaller cast and a modern wardrobe, this MacBeth production may allow the audience to concentrate more on the relationship.
"I think, how he's condensed it, just focused on them, is an interesting twist," says the veteran Naples stage actress.
Gravatt also wants to convey all facets of her character's personality. Traditionally, actresses have portrayed the character a negative light, completely ignoring her femininity.
"There's a horrible preconception that she's oversimplified … labeled 'evil' and 'the downfall of Macbeth'. I don't think that's true," Gravatt says.
The never-ending love story between man and woman transcends time and will always relate to an audience, McKerrow says. So the play will highlight the complexities of the love affair between Macbeth and Lady M.
"It is a simple message and a very entertaining one … taking it from the love story angle I think will engage people," McKerrow says.
But even when he watches a traditional version of "Macbeth," McKerrow says chemistry is apparent between the couple.
Having first read the play at age five, McKerrow is intimately familiar with the dynamic between the leading characters. As a Shakespearean student, teacher and actor, McKerrow considers himself an authority on playwright's work.
But "Macbeth" stood out, for McKerrow, as the first to adapt because it already has a central narrative that focuses on the main character.
"Macbeth has 60 percent of the lines," McKerrow says.
Also, "Macbeth" lacks subplots, making it easier for McKerrow to trim the dialogue by getting rid of the bit players.
Rounding out the small veteran cast are Mark Vanagas, who plays the witches and the doctor, and Mary Anne McAvoy McKerrow, John's wife, playing the role of Seyton.
With fewer lines, the cast will have fewer moments on stage. So McKerrow's production wraps up in an hour. Traditional "Macbeth" productions often run three hours.
McKerrow also has practical reasons for his reduced cast size: a small budget. Other Shakespeare plays, like "A Mid Summer Nights Dream," would require at least a cast of 12, he says.
"Theater companies don't start up very often and when they do start up, they get a significant major grant, or a major donor," says Rhona Saunders, Shakespeare in Paradise board member. McKerrow says, the budget for his production ran $5,000. The Naples Botanical Gardens has donated its space to Shakespeare in Paradise for eight shows. He anticipates 100 tickets will be sold each night, making it possible for his theater company to produce more shows.
"I am confident this will be a success," McKerrow says.


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Padmanabhaswamy Temple
|Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
|8°28′58″N 76°56′37″E / 8.48278°N 76.94361°ECoordinates: 8°28′58″N 76°56′37″E / 8.48278°N 76.94361°E
|Proper name:
|Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
|പത്മനാഭസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം
|Temple Details
|Primary Deity:
|Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy (Vishnu)
|Architecture and culture
|Architectural styles:
|Dravidian architecture (Kovil)
Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Vishnu Temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The shrine is run by a trust headed by the Maharaja of Travancore.[1] Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the titular Maharaja and Sree Revathi Thirunal Balagopal Varma, the titular Elayaraja. The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. Lord Balarama, according to Srimad Bhagavatam (10.79.18), visited Phalgunam (now known as Thiruvananthapuram) as part of his teerthyatra, took bath in Panchapsaras (Padmatirtham) and made a gift of ten thousand cows to holy men. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvar saints (6th–9th centuries AD), with structural additions made to it throughout the 16th century, when its ornate Gopuram was constructed.[2][3] The Temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar.[2] Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala's state capital Thiruvananthapuram. 'Thiru' 'Anantha' 'Puram' means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha. The city was also known as Anandapuram (City of Bliss) and Syananduram (Where Bliss is not far off). Ananda refers to Sree Padmanabha Himself. Hindu scriptures refer to the Supreme Being as 'Sachidananda' (Absolute Truth, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss).[citation needed]
The Principal Deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is enshrined in the "Anantha-sayanam" posture (in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Anantha).[4] The Maharajah of Travancore bears the title, "Sree Padmanabhadasa' (Servant of Lord Padmanabha).
Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple at Ananthapura near Kumbala in Kasaragod District is the original source or Moolasthanam(in Malayalam) of Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram.[5]
In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple. Devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.[6]
Thiruvananthapuram, being a Divya Desam, has always been sacred by the presence of Sri Padmanabha Swami. That was why Lord Balarama is said to have visited this holy place long ago during the Dwapara Yuga. But Sri Padmanabha manifested in the form of an idol much much later, during the time of Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar alias Divakara Muni.
Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar, residing near Ananthapuram Temple, Kasargod prayed to Lord Vishnu for his darshan. The Lord came in disguise as a small, mischievous boy. The boy defiled the Saligrama which was kept for Puja. The Sage became enraged at this and chased away the boy. The boy disappeared. After a long search, when he was walking on the banks of Arabian Sea, he heard a pulaya lady threatening her child that she would throw him in Ananthankadu. The moment the Swami heard the word Ananthankadu, he was delighted. He proceeded to Ananthankadu based on the directions of the lady from whom he enquired. The Sage reached Ananthankadu searching for the boy. There he saw the boy merging into an Iluppa tree (Indian Butter Tree). The tree fell down and became Anantha Sayana Moorti (Vishnu reclining on Anantha). But the Lord was of an extraordinarily large size with head at Thiruvallom, navel at Thiruvanananthapuram and lotus-feet at Thrippadapuram (Thrippappur). The Sage requested the Lord to shrink to a smaller proportion – thrice the length of his staff. Immediately, the Lord shrank. But even then many Iluppa trees obstructed a complete vision of the Lord. The Sage saw the Lord in three parts – thirumukham, thiruvudal and thrippadam. Swami prayed to Padmanabha to be forgiven . The Swami offered Rice Kanji and Uppumanga (salted mango pieces) in a coconut shell to the Perumal which he obtained from the pulaya woman. The spot where the Sage had darsan of the Lord belonged to Koopakkara Potti and Karuva Potti. With the assistance of the reigning King and some Brahmin households a Temple was constructed. Koopakkara Potti was made the Tantri of the Temple.[7]
Ananthankadu Nagaraja Temple still exists to the north west of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Samadhi (final resting place) of the Swamiyar exists to the west of the Sri Padmanabha Temple. A Krishna Temple was built over the Samadhi. This Temple, known as Vilvamangalam Sri Krishna Swami Temple, belongs to Thrissur Naduvil Madhom.[2]
Main shrine[edit]
In the sanctum sanctorum, Sri Padmanabha reclines on the serpent Anantha or Adi Sesha.[8] The serpent has five hoods facing inwards, signifying contemplation. The Lord's right hand is placed over a Shiva lingam. Sridevi, the Goddess of Prosperity and Bhudevi the Goddess of Earth, two consorts of Vishnu are by his side. Brahma emerges on a lotus, which emanates from the navel of the Lord. The deity is made from 12,000 saligramams.[9] These saligrams are from the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal, and to commemorate this certain rituals used to be performed at the Pashupatinath Temple.[10] The deity of Sri Padmanabha is covered with, "Katusarkara yogam", a special ayurvedic mix, which forms a plaster that keeps the deity clean. The daily worship is with flowers and for the abhishekam, special deities are used.
The platforms in front of the vimanam and where the deity rests, are both carved out of a single massive stone and hence called "Ottakkal-mandapam." The Ottakkal-mandapam were cut out of a rock at Thirumala, about 4 miles north of the temple, measuring 20 feet square and 2.5 feet thick was brought and placed in front of the deity in the month of Edavom 906 M.E. (1731 AD) In order to perform darshan and puja, one has to ascend the to the mandapam. The Deity is visible through three doors – the visage of the reclining Lord and Siva Linga underneath the hand is seen through the first door; Sridevi and Divakara Muni in Katusarkara, Brahma seated on a lotus emanating from the Lord's navel, hence the name, "Padmanabha", gold abhisheka moorthies of Lord Padmanabha, Sridevi and Bhudevi, and silver utsava moorthi of Padmanabha through the second door; the Lord's feet, and Bhudevi and Kaundinya Muni in Katusarkara through the third door. Only the King of Travancore may perform sashtanga namaskaram, or prostrate on the "Ottakkal Mandapam". It is traditionally held that anybody who prostrates on the mandapam has surrendered all that he possesses to the Deity. Since the ruler has already done that, he is permitted to prostrate on this mandapam.[11]
Among the six kallaras or chambers in the Temple, the Mahabharata Konathu Kallara (Kallara B) is very closely associated with Sri Padmanabhaswamy. It is not a part of the Temple Treasury. The holy Chamber houses a Srichakram, an idol of Sri Padmanabha and many valuables meant to enhance the potency of the Principal Deity. It has in it the presence of many gods and sages worshipping the Lord. Kanjirottu Yakshi also resides in the Chamber worshipping Lord Narasimha.[12] The enchanting and ferocious forms of this Yakshi are painted on the south-west part of the main Sanctum.
Other shrines[edit]
Inside the Temple, there are two other important shrines, Thekkedom and Thiruvambadi, for the Deities, Sree Ugra Narasimha and Sree Krishna Swami respectively. One of the duties assigned to Lord Narasimha is the protection of the Mahabharata Konathu Kallara. Thiruvambadi shrine enjoys an independent status and predates the shrine of Sri Padmanabha. Thiruvambadi shrine has its own namaskara mandapam, bali stones and flagmast. The Lord of Thiruvambadi is Parthasarathi, the Divine Charioteer of Arjuna. The granite idol of the Lord of Thiruvambadi was brought from Gujarat by seventy two families of Vrishni Vamsa Kshatriyas. As these Vrishnies belong to the lineage of Lord Krishna, they are known as Krishnan vakakkar. The two-armed granite idol, with one hand holding the whip and the other resting on the left thigh holding the conch close to it, is in standing posture. On Ekadasi days the Lord is dressed and decorated as Mohini. There are also shrines for Sree Rama accompanied by Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, Vishwaksena (the Nirmalyadhari of Vishnu and Remover of Obstacles), Vyasa, Ganapati, Sasta and Kshetrapala (who guards the temple). Grand idols of Garuda and Hanuman stand with folded hands in the Valiya balikkal area.[2] The thevara idols of Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma are housed in the south east part of the Temple.
The foundation of the present gopuram was laid in 1566.[13] The temple has a 100-foot,[14] seven-tier gopuram made in the Pandyan style.[15] The temple stands by the side of a tank, named Padma Theertham (meaning the lotus spring). The temple has a corridor with 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with elaborate carvings which stands out to be an ultimate testimonial for the Vishwakarma sthapathis in sculpting this architectural masterpiece. This corridor extends from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum. An eighty-foot flag-staff stands in front of the main entry from the prakaram(closed precincts of a temple). The ground floor under the gopuram (main entrance in the eastern side) is known as the 'Nataka Sala' where the famous temple art Kathakali was staged in the night during the ten-day uthsavam (festival) conducted twice a year, during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.
Swamiyar, Tantri and Nambi[edit]
Temples where 'Swamiyar Pushpanjali' is conducted are claimants to extra sanctity. Sannyasins from any one of the monasteries founded by the disciples of Adi Sankara in Thrissur do pushpanjali (flower worship) daily to Sri Padmanabha, Narasimha Moorthi and Sri Krishna Swami. Of these monasteries, Naduvil Madhom is the most important as Vilvamangalathu Swamiyar, the founder of this Temple, belonged to this monastery.
Initially, Koopakkara Potties were the Tantries of the Temple. Later, Tantram was transferred to Tharananallur Nambuthiripads of Iranjalakkuda. The Nambies, altogether four in number, are the Chief Priests of the Temple. Two Nambies - Periya Nambi and Panchagavyathu Nambi - are allotted to Sri Padmanabha and one Nambi each to Narasimha Moorthi and Sri Krishna Swami. The Nambies hail from either side of the Chandragiri River. They are appointed by the Pushpanjali Swamiyar.[2]
Darshanam, sevas and festivals[edit]
In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple.[citation needed] Devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.
There are many festivals related to this temple. The major festivals are bi-annual. The Alpashy festival which is in October/November and the Panguni festival which is in Tamil month Panguni, March/April, lasts for 10 days each. On the ninth day the Maharajah of Travancore, in his capacity as Thrippappoor Mooppan, escorts the deities to the vettakkalam for Pallivetta. Centuries back, the Pallivetta procession was said to pass through Kaithamukku, Kuthiravattom (Kunnumpuram), Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram and Putharikkandam. The festivals culminate with the Aarat (holy bath) procession to the Shankumugham Beach. The word Aarat refers to the purificatory immersion of the deities of the temple in sea. This event takes place in the evening. The Maharajah of Travancore escorts the Aarat procession on foot. The festival idols "Utsava Vigrahas" of Sri Padmanabhaswamy, Krishna Swami and Narasimha Moorthi are given a ritual bath in the sea, after the prescribed pujas. After this ceremony, the idols are taken back to the temple in a procession that is lit by traditional torches, marking the conclusion of the festival.[2]
A major annual festival related to Padmanabha temple is the Navaratri festival. The idols of Saraswati Amman, Mun Uditha Nangai (Parasakti who appeared before Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati to help them identify their husbands who had been transformed into infants by the power of chastity of Anasuya) and Kumara Swami (Murugan) are brought to the Kuthira malika palace in front of Padmanabha temple as a procession. This festival lasts for 9 days. The famous Swathi music festival is held every year during this festival.
The biggest festival in this temple is laksha deepam, which means hundred thousand (or one lakh) lamps. This festival is unique and commences once in 6 years. Prior to this festival, chanting of prayers and recitation of three vedas is done for 56 days. On the last day, hundred thousand oil lamps are lit in and around the temple premises. The next laksha deepam is slated on January 2014
Ettara Yogam[edit]
Initially, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and its property were controlled by Thiruvaanandapuram Sabha and later by Ettara Yogam with the assistance of Ettuveetil Pillamar.[16] The Pushpanjali Swamiyars of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple preside over the meetings of Thiruvaanandapuram Sabha and Ettara Yogam. In the past, the Swamiyars of Naduvil Madhom were appointed as Pushpanjali Swamiyars by the Maharajah of Travancore with the concurrence of Ettara Yogam.
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma curtailed the authority of Ettara Yogam and liquidated the powerful Ettuveetil Pillamar. Ettara Yogam became an advisory and assenting body thereafter. Besides Naduvil Madhom, Munchira Madhom got the right to Pushpanjali during his reign. In the recent past, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma gave Pushpanjali rights to the Swamiyars of Thrikkaikattu Madhom and Thekke Madhom as well. Though the Maharajah is the appointing authority of the Pushpanjali Swamiyar, the former must do 'vechu namaskaram' when he sees the Swamiyar.
With the passing away of Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma in December 2013, his nephew Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma became the titular Maharajah of Travancore in January 2014. Like his predecessors, Sree Moolam Thirunal also got concurrence from the Ettara Yogam before assuming the title 'Maharaja'. In the presence of the Maharaja designate, the Yogathu Pottimar and the Tantri, the Pushpanjali Swamiyar Maravanchery Thekkedathu Neelakanta Bharatikal signed on the Neettu (Order) of the Ettara Yogam giving recognition to Sri Moolam Thirunal as Chirava Mooppu (Maharaja of Travancore) and Thrippappoor Mooppu (Administrator of the Temple). This ceremony took place at Kulasekhara Mandapam in Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
The Kerala Mahatmyam (an Upa Purana deriving its origin from the Bhoogola Purana) is in the form of a discourse between Yudhishthira and the Sage Garga. It stated that Parashurama after founding Kerala divided the land into 64 gramas, crowned Bhanu Vicrama at Sreevardhanapuram (Padmanabhapuram), and styled him the Kovil Adhikarikal, i.e., the manager of the pagoda of Sreevalumcode (Thiruvananthapuram).[16]
In the first half of the 18th century, in line with matrilineal customs, King Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, age 23, succeeded his uncle, King Rama Varma. He successfully suppressed the 700-year stranglehold of the Ettuveetil Pillais and his cousins following the discovery of conspiracies which the lords were involved in against the Royal House of Travancore. The last major renovation of the Padmanabhaswamy temple commenced immediately after Anizham Thirunal's accession to the musnud and the idol was reconsecrated in 906 M.E. (1731 AD). On 17 January 1750, Anizham Thirunal surrendered the kingdom of Travancore to Sree Padmanabha Swamy, the deity at the temple, and pledged that he and his descendants would be vassals or agents of the deity who would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa.[4] Since then, the name of every Travancore king was preceded by the title Padmanabha Dasa; the female members of the royal family were called Padmanabha Sevinis. The donation of the kingdom to Sree Padmanabhaswamy was known as Thrippadi-danam. The final wishes of Anizham Thirunal on his passing at the age of 53 clearly delineated the historical relationship between the Maharajah and the temple: "That no deviation whatsoever should be made in regard to the dedication of the kingdom to Sree Padmanabhaswamy and that all future territorial acquisitions should be made over to the Devaswom."
References to the temple[edit]
The Divya Prabandha canon of Tamil literature by the Alvars glorifies this shrine as one of 13 Divya Desams in Malanadu. The 8th century Alvar Nammalvar sang the glories of Sri Padmanabha.[17][18] But, the shrine is many centuries older as there are references to this temple in seven puranas namely Bhagavata, Brahma, Brahmanda, Skanda, Varaha, Padma and Matsya. Syanandura Purana Samuchaya in Sanskrit and Ananta Pura Varnanam in Malayalam are two works that give detailed information of the temple city.
Temple assets[edit]
|Wikinews has related news: Hidden treasure worth billions of dollars discovered in Indian temple
The temple and its assets belong to Lord Padmanabhaswamy, and are controlled by a trust run by the Royal family.[19][20][21][22] T P Sundara Rajan's litigations changed the way the world looked at the Temple. The Kerala High Court ordered the temple and its assets be managed by the State on 31 January 2011. As trustees of the temple, the Travancore Royal family have challenged the Kerala High Court's decision in the Supreme Court of India.
In June 2011, the Supreme Court directed the authorities from the archaeology department and fire services[23] to open the secret chambers of the temple for inspection of the items kept inside.The temple has 6 vaults (Kallaras), labeled as A to F for book keeping purpose by the Court. While vaults A and B have been unopened over the past many years, vaults C to F have been opened from time to time. The two priests of the temple, the 'Periya Nambi' and the 'Thekkedathu Nambi', are the custodians of the four vaults, C to F, which are opened periodically. The Supreme Court had directed that "the existing practices, procedures and rituals" of the temple be followed while opening vaults C to F and using the articles inside. Vaults A and B shall be opened only for the purpose of making an inventory of the articles and then closed.
The review of the temple's underground vaults was undertaken by a seven-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India to generate an inventory, leading to the enumeration of a vast collection of articles that are traditionally kept under lock and key. A detailed inventory of the temple assets, consisting of gold, jewels, and other valuables was made. Several 18th century Napoleonic era coins were found,[3] as well as a three-and-a-half feet tall gold idol of Mahavishnu studded with rubies and emeralds, and ceremonial attire for adorning the deity in the form of 16-part gold anki weighing almost 30 kilograms (66 lb) together with gold coconut shells, one studded with rubies and emeralds.[24]
This revelation has solidified the status of the Padmanabhaswamy temple as one of the wealthiest temples in India and with the final estimate of the wealth, it might overtake the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple—hitherto thought to be the wealthiest temple—having some 32,000 crore or 320 billion (US$5.3 billion) in gold, coins and other assets.[25] It is estimated that the value of the monumental items is close to 1.2 lakh crore or 1.2 trillion (US$20 billion), making it the richest temple in the world. If the antique value is taken into account, these assets could be worth ten times the current market price.[26] One of the oldest existing estimates, which can be considered to be at least as reliable as any other made since the discovery of the hidden treasure (or assets) of the Temple in 2011, was made by the Travancore Royal Family itself in 1931. According to the then drawn-up estimate, the riches contained in Vault B, which is the only vault that is unopened so far, since the discovery of the treasure, were worth 12,000 crores. Considering the subsequent inflation of the rupee, and the increase in the price of gold and other precious metals and stones since, the treasure in the unopened vault B alone, would be worth at least 50 trillion (US$1 trillion) in present-day terms, before the cultural value being factored in.[27]
The valuables are thought to have been in the temple for hundreds of years, having been put there by the Maharajahs of Travancore.[3][28][29] While some historians have suggested that a major chunk of the stored riches reached the kings in the form of tax, gifts, as well as conquered wealth of states and offerings stocked in the temple for safekeeping.[30] But it has to be remembered that in Travancore a distinction was always made among Government Treasury (Karuvelam), Temple Treasury (Thiruvara Bhandaram or Sri Bhandaram) and the Royal Treasury (Chellam). During the reign of Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, hundreds of temples that were mismanaged were brought under the Government. The excess ornaments in these temples were transferred to the Vaults of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Instead the funds of Sri Padmanabha Temple were utilised for the daily upkeep of these temples.
On 4 July 2011 the seven-member expert team tasked with taking stock of the temple assets decided to postpone opening of the Mahabharata Konathu Kallara or Chamber 'B'. This chamber is sealed with an iron door with the image of a cobra on it and it has not been opened, due to the belief opening it would result in much misfortune.[31] The royal family said that many legends were attached to the temple and that chamber B has a model of a snake on the main door and opening it could be a bad omen.[32] The seven-member team will consult with some more experts on 8 July 2011 and then they may take the final decision on opening of chamber 'B'.[33] An Ashtamangala Devaprasnam conducted in the Temple to discern the will of the Lord revealed that any attempts to open Chamber 'B' would cause Divine displeasure and that the holy articles in the other chambers were defiled in the inventorying process.[10] The original petitioner whose court action led to the inventory taking, T.P. Sundarajan, died in July 2011, adding credence to those who believe in the folklore around the temple.[34]
The Kerala High Court ruled in 2011 that the state government should take over the control of the temple and its assets, but the Travancore royal family appealed to the Supreme Court.[35] An independent report was commissioned, and was completed in November 2012,[36] finding no evidence that the royal family were expropriating the treasures.[35]
As of July 2012, inventorization and valuation of the items in vaults C, D E and F were 90% complete, while formal inventorization of vault A was underway, and vault B was yet to be opened. The results of the inventory are not to be released until the completion of the whole process by order of the Supreme Court of India.[36]
Picture gallery[edit]
The four entrances[edit]
Other images[edit]
See also[edit]
- ^ "Chambers of Kerala's Padmanabhaswamy temple may have royals' riches". The Economic Times. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f Bayi, Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi (1995). Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, India.
- ^ a b c Padanna, Ashraf (1 July 2011). "India: Treasure unearthed in Kerala temple". BBC News. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Temples of Kerala – Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Temples of India @ New Kerala .Com". Temples.newkerala.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ http://ananthapuratemple.com/history
- ^ Pippa De Bruyn, Keith Bain, David Allardice Frommer's India 2010 Page 281 "Padmanabhaswamy Temple - This Dravidian-style Vishnu temple, said to be the largest in Kerala, may be off-limits to non-Hindus, but the "temple guides" manage to target foreigners with great ease, leading them to the obligatory spots from ..."
- ^ "Legend And History".
- ^ Jayashanker, S (1999), Temples of Kerala
- ^ Hatch, Emily Gilchriest (1939). Travancore (Second ed.). Calcutta: Oxford University Press. p. 151.
- ^ a b Mathrubhumi Aug 12, 2011
- ^ Santhanam, Kausalya (15 September 2011). "Writer with a royal lineage". The Hindu (Chennai, India). Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ Bayi, Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi. 'Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple' (Third Edition). Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 2013.
- ^ Selvister Ponnumuthan (1996). The spirituality of basic ecclesial communities in the socio-religious context of Trivandrum/Kerala, India. Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana. p. Page 62.
- ^ "Padmanabhaswamy Temple Thiruvananthapuram Kerala". Naturemagics.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ T. Madhava Menon, (2000) A handbook of Kerala, Volume 1. pp.243
- ^ a b P. Shungoonny Menon, (1878) History of Travancore from the Earliest Times
- ^ "Nammalvar : Poems and Biography". Poetry-chaikhana.com. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ Elayavalli, Venkatesh K. "108 Divya Desam: A Virtual Tour".
- ^ Kerala government has no right over the wealth, 6 July 2011, rediff.com
- ^ SC halts opening of Kerala temple's last vault, TNN & Agencies 8 Jul 2011
- ^ Apex court restrains opening of Kerala temple vault Express news service, Sat 9 Jul 2011
- ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-09/india/29754934_1_temple-riches-devotees-venugopal Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple treasure belongs to deity: Royal family[dead link], TNN, 9 Jul 2011
- ^ "Rs50k cr worth treasure in Kerala temple". Times of India. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Golden idol of Vishnu found at Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple". Chennai, India: Thehindu.com. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "'Billions worth' of treasure found in Indian temple". Yahoo! News. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "India Today Kerala's Padmanabha temple treasure 120000 crore". India Today. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-temple-may-reveal-more-riches/1/144004.html
- ^ God's own riches: Kerala's temple treasure amounts to a whopping R 1 lakh crore, IANS, (05/07/11)
- ^ bn and counting: the treasure uncovered at Kerala temple, Maseeh Rahman, guardian.co.uk, Monday 4 July 2011
- ^ "Glittering details emerge of Indian temple treasure". The Gazette (Montreal). 5 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.[dead link]
- ^ Hayes, S (10 July 2011). "The Forgotten and Cursed Billion Treasure Trove Discovered Beneath Indian Temple". NewsFlavor. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Legend halts Kerala temple stocktaking". The Asian Age. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ "Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple: Lord's riches worth more than Rs 1 lakh cr". New Delhi: The Economic Times. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ Oibituary: TP Sundararajan, who died on July 17 aged 70, obtained a court order which has led, this summer. to the opening of the vaults of the 16th century Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum, in the southern Indian state of Kerala Daily Telegraph, 20 July 2011
- ^ a b Temple Riches: Render unto Padmanabhaswamy - The Economist, 19 February 2013
- ^ a b Supreme Court of India, in the matter of Sri Marthanda Varma v T P Sundararajan AND Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma v Union of India - November 2012
--Globfluence 13:21, 5 March 2014 (UTC)http://globalmalayalam.com/news.php?nid=10062
External links[edit]
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Official Website)
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Information About Sree Padmanabhaswamy)
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple treasures belong to royal family: Sankaracharya
- About Irum Kulangara Durga Devi Temple
- Padmanabhaswamy temple tour information
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Padmanabhaswamy Temple.


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Hollywood and Highland Hostel and Hotel
70381/2 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA, Distance from city centre: 10.7km
Real Reviews
Real reviews from fellow travellers
These are trusted reviews from guests who have actually stayed here. We hope you find them helpful.
Note: we only give a property a rating once it has received a minimum of 3 reviews.
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- " The worst place I've ever seen. "
- 25 Dec 2013 Jonathan Jones Brazil
- " Staff was really mean to me, the guy at the reception didn´t even have eye contact with all my time at the hostel. "
- 31 Aug 2013 Miren Spain
- " the location is great but the rooms are so small and in the night it is so hot that i coudnt sleep.... "
- 21 Aug 2013 Anonymous Israel